It’s summer, which is perhaps the most ideal time to travel. However, before you embark on your fun adventures, you’ll need to make sure your car is ready for the journey. Below, we walk you through how to prepare your car for a road trip in just a few steps.
Clean and Protect Your Vehicle
You may think that you shouldn’t clean your vehicle before a road trip because, after all, it’s only going to get dirty anyway. However, by washing your car prior to your departure, you can easily spot it in parking lots—just remember to clean every inch of your vehicle, including its headlights. Plus, when you clean your vehicle’s interior, you can easily recover any lost items inside it.
To keep your car clean, we suggest getting a clear bra, as it protects your vehicle’s factory finish. When your car has this film, you won’t have to worry about unsightly chips or scratches in your paint from kicked-up debris.
Pack an Emergency Kit
You never know what’ll happen on the road, so it’s best to prepare yourself and your vehicle for the trip now. Here are just a few of the essentials you should keep in your emergency kit:
- A cell phone charger
- A flashlight
- A first aid kit
- A paper map
- Jumper cables
- Tools—think hammers, pliers, screwdrivers, and wrenches
Perform Basic Maintenance
Before you depart, it’s crucial that you test your heating and cooling systems—having these systems suddenly fail on you isn’t ideal, especially when you’re far from home. Additionally, check your battery and your car’s important fluids, such as the brake fluid, coolant, and oil. If any fluids are low, go to a mechanic. You should also check your tire pressure and, if necessary, inflate your tires. Remember to replace your vehicle’s wipers and to top off the wiper fluid, too; predicting the weather can be difficult, and you’ll want full visibility out of your windshield. Finally, don’t forget to fill up your gas tank!
